Environment
Wisconsin tribes complete purchase of mine site


Two Wisconsin tribes have completed their purchase of a proposed mine site near Crandon.

The Mole Lake Chippewa and the Forest County Potawatomi Tribe agreed to buy the Crandon mine site for pay $16.5 million. The Potawatomis paid their share in cash while the Chippewa were still raising money for their share.

The Chippewa took out a loan to finance its share. But BHP Billiton, a mining giant associated with the site, agreed to donate the $8 million payment back to the tribe in the form of a trust.

The tribes fought the proposed zinc and copper mine out of fear it would destroy Rice Lake and pollute water.

Get the Story:
Tribe makes final payment on purchase of proposed mine land (AP 5/30)

Relevant Links:
Forest County Potawatomi Tribe - http://www.fcpotawatomi.com
Sokaogon Chippewa Community - http://www.sokaogonchippewa.com
Ban Cyanide at Crandon Mine - http://www.alphacdc.com/treaty/cyanide.html

Related Stories:
Tribe still raising money for its share of mine buyout (05/05)
Wis. tribes buying out mine interest for $16.5M (10/29)
Wis. tribes said to be near deal over proposed mine (10/27)
Wis. tribes offered chance to buy burial site (06/30)
Mine near reservation still up for grabs (10/16)
Company bows to tribal pressure on mine (09/18)
Wis. officials scrap talks over mine buyout (09/16)
State in talks over mine near reservation (9/6)
Ojibwe tribe discusses mine proposal (9/3)
Mine near Wis. reservation questioned (8/30)
Tribes propose buyout of mine site (6/21)
Wis. tribe's powers left intact (6/4)
Tribal authority challenge denied (6/3)
U.S. backs tribal environmental rights (5/15)
Mine near Wis. reservation upheld (1/30)
Wis. tribe has hopes after cyanide ban (11/7)
State fighting tribal water ruling (11/6)
Wis. might appeal Ojibwe decision (9/25)
Challenge to tribal authority rejected (9/24)
Court rejects challenge to tribal authority (4/17)
EPA Budget: No new tribal grants (4/13)
Pueblo battles arsenic in water standard (4/16)
EPA attorney pleads guilty (06/28)